JAHA: Tell us
about the key findings from your recent article in JAHA.
Dr. Kanaya: We found that brachial artery flow mediated dilation (FMD)
results differed from endothelial function biomarkers for those with
pre-diabetes. While biomarkers of
endothelial function (PAI-1, E-selectin, sICAM-1, and vWF) were more uniform in
association with glucose levels with higher levels of biomarkers associated
with higher glucose levels. However, the
pattern of association with FMD was different—with the pre-diabetes IFG group
having higher FMD levels than those with normal or diabetic glucose levels.
This was most notable in whites with normal BMI.
JAHA: What are the major implications of
this work?
Dr. Kanaya: This discordance between FMD and biomarker results raises
the possibility of differential effects of insulin signaling in the endothelium
vs. the skeletal muscles or other organs. It may also give us some clues about
why some studies have found harmful associations between IFG and future events
while others have not.
JAHA: How did
you get the idea to do this study?
Dr. Kanaya: I am interested in studying what factors explain higher
prevalence of diabetes in ethnic minority groups vs. European white
populations. We are studying South Asians in a prospective cohort study to
determine etiologic and prognostic factors associated with diabetes and CVD.
Endothelial function was a novel aspect worth studying in South Asians and
comparing them to other US
ethnic groups.
JAHA: What was
your biggest obstacle in completing this study?
Dr. Kanaya: The most difficult part of this study was to understand and
explain the novel findings with the differential effects observed by the FMD
and the endothelial biomarkers for the IFG group.
JAHA: What was
your most unexpected finding?
Dr. Kanaya: See above.
JAHA: What do
you plan to do next, based on these current findings?
Dr. Kanaya: We are conducting a larger prospective cohort of 900 South
Asians currently (called the Mediators of Atherosclerosis in South Asians
Living in America study)
which has been created to be parallel in methods and measures to the MESA study. We plan to
remeasure endothelial function in this larger study to confirm our original
findings. We will also be examining
prospective associations of endothelial function with diabetes incidence in
both MESA and
MASALA.
JAHA: What do you
like to do in your free time?
Dr. Kanaya: I like to travel internationally with my family, cook and
practice yoga.
JAHA: What is
your favorite sports team or musical group?
Dr. Kanaya: The San Francisco
49ers, Favorite band is U2.
Profile originally published February 26, 2013
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